The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is currently on the search for William D. Brainard, a 44-year-old inmate who managed to evade custody from an Oklahoma City correctional facility yesterday, KFOR reports. Brainard, who was serving a five-year term for burglary charges stemming from Rogers County, made his inconspicuous exit from the Clara Waters Community Corrections Center at around 8:25 p.m., with officials urging the public not to engage him if spotted, but to rather keep a safe distance and dial 911 immediately.
According to News9, the Clara Waters facility, situated near N. I-35 Service Road and Thomson Avenue, is the last known location of Brainard; who was reported to have simply walked away, bringing questions to light regarding the specifics of his departure and the circumstances that allowed for such an escape to occur and the Department of Corrections is remaining tight-lipped about how Brainard managed to leave undetected and where he might be headed despite his seemingly abrupt and brazen departure.
The facility from which Brainard absconded specializes in community corrections and oversight, a detail that seems cruelly ironic given the nature of his disappearance. While details remain sparse, the urgency underpinning the search for William Brainard is palpable, as reflected by the Department's immediate release of the escape news and description of Brainard, including his latest mugshot obtained by KFOR.
Officials have launched a dedicated search effort, combing the vicinity and extending their reach, calling upon the public's eyes and ears; local authorities and law enforcement are cooperating in a concerted effort to recapture the escapee according to the information provided by OKC FOX, which also notes that Brainard's unlawful departure last night has led to an enforced scrutiny over the Center's security protocols and preventative measures to avoid future instances that resemble Brainard's escape.
